Reference

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Diamonds 101

First thing's first: No one needs a diamond

Let's face it. As pretty and shiny as
diamonds are, your first step toward purchasing a diamond engagement ring is to accept and
realize that you are buying a luxury. In many countries throughout the world,
millions of couples get engaged each year with a plain engagement band. Even in the
U.S., many couples choose different stones or no stones at all to symbolize their
engagement. Before you purchase a diamond, ask yourself if you really want a
diamond... you certainly don't need it to get engaged.

Diamonds are expensive because they are rare

FALSE! There are enough diamonds in
the world to fill a cupful for every man, woman, and child in the planet. The reason
they are so expensive is because strict controls are placed on the quantity of diamonds produced
for sale worldwide.

Ok, then why would I buy a diamond?

A diamond is truly a wonderful
symbol of commitment and love; with the right care, a diamond ring will last a lifetime.

Emotions aside, once you've decided to take
the plunge and make a diamond purchase, it should be approached methodically and
rationally. Allow yourself 1 to 3 months to do the research, evaluate all the
options, and then finally to make the purchase. On average, an engagement diamond
ring is the third most expensive item that a person will buy in their lifetime (other than
a home and a car). You should treat the purchase very seriously -- this is where Diamond Review
can help you.

The Tutorial

The purpose of our tutorial is twofold:

To give you a quick but solid education on the basics of diamonds, and

to guide you through the selection and purchasing process.

You should plan on spending about 30 minutes on the
tutorial. If you're planning to purchase a diamond, this will be time well spent.

If you're in a hurry or don't feel like reading tutorials, we recommend
using FindMyJeweler to find a pre-screened local jeweler near you that
will take the time to educate you, and will also provide you with quality and service at a reasonable price.
Click here to try out FindMyJeweler!

The "4 Cs"

The quality of a diamond is determined by four factors commonly known as
the "4 Cs" -- Carat
weight, Clarity, Color, and Cut.
The first 3 Cs are quite straightforward and will be explained here. However, beware
of "cut"!! The difference between a
"great" cut, a "good" cut, and a "bad" cut can be subtle to
the untrained eye, but will make a huge difference in terms of the value and beauty of the
stone. An unscrupulous jeweler will sell you a heavy stone with superb clarity and
color for an unbelievably low price and still make a substantial profit, if the 4th
"C" -- the cut -- is inferior!

The tutorial will go through each factor in
thorough detail -- especially "cut." If at a later time you need a quick
reference on any of these topics, use the tabs in any of the Tutorial pages to jump
directly to the information you need.

For now, click on "next page" to
begin learning about the first "C" -- Carat Weight!